User Safety Can Never Be Left to Chance
Using mobile test sets often makes preventing electrical hazards more challenging, especially since test setups in the field are constantly changing and the test sets are used by different individuals over time.
The CMC 500 now meets the EN 50191 requirements for mobile test set ups. We haven’t simply minimized tripping hazards by placing all the terminals on the front of the device. We've invested significant effort into improving user safety by conducting a thorough risk analysis with the assistance of external specialists. A key point that went into developing the CMC 500 was ensuring its safety functions wouldn’t disrupt user workflows.
To maximize the reliability of safety features, we adhered to the functional safety requirements outlined in the ISO 13489 safety standard. These functions are designed with redundancy, and monitoring safety-critical statuses is entirely independent of the device's other functions. For example, this approach prevents a signal light from wrongly displaying “green” although a high voltage is present in the terminal.
The removable INTERLOCK key assures technicians that safety measures remain intact whenever the device is out of sight. This feature is particularly important when more than one group of technicians is working in a substation. For instance, if a tester discovers a wiring fault on a protection relay and goes there to fix it, the key ensures that no one else can inadvertently apply hazardous voltages or currents at a critical moment. This is especially important when the CMC 500 is connected to the primary side of a current transformer with currents as high as 450 A.
An external emergency switching off button for enhancing safety with clearly visible signal lights will also be available soon. This will allow technicians working at a distance from the test set to have signal lights close by, so they can see the current status clearly, even if they cannot view the control software screen or the device’s LEDs. Additionally, it enables those not directly involved in the test to monitor its current status.
One of the most impressive advancements of the CMC 500 is the operating mode button, which eliminates the need to switch off the device during rewiring. This means that interruptions between the test set and the test software are now a thing of the past. With the touch of a button, the outputs are internally de-energized, eliminating any risks associated with the CMC 500’s outputs during rewiring.
Learn more:
1: Future-proof? Challenge accepted!
2: Cybersecurity by design
3: User safety can never be left to chance
4: Have you got everything?